Chapter Twenty-Eight
CAMILA
Alice was the cutest child in the universe.
Or maybe I was just the silliest adult in the universe, given how completely in love I already was with that little creature.
I didn’t know what Michael had said to the girl’s grandparents, only that they left us alone for most of the party.
Apparently, they were too busy greeting other rich people, though it was obvious they’d rather be doing that with their granddaughter in their arms, just to show her off like a trophy.
Not exactly a cheerful way for a child to spend her first birthday.
But, thanks to whatever Michael had told them, we had a few hours of fun with Alice.
At times, Michael’s mother joined us. She was clearly already smitten with her granddaughter, even though she kept insisting on being called ‘ auntie ’.
With the way she doted on the girl, I found it hard to believe she wouldn’t completely melt the moment Alice learned to say ‘grandma.’
Alice played so much that by the time it was cake-cutting time, she was already sleepy, so we decided to leave shortly after, even though the party would continue late into the night.
A nanny came to pick her up and take her to bed, and Michael gave her a thousand instructions, like the worried father he was.
He was simply an adorable dad.
Michael and his mother had come in separate cars, so we said our goodbyes to her at the mansion’s exit, and my fake fiancé was supposed to take me home. However, it was still just past ten, and he had another idea.
“It’s your birthday. We could celebrate somewhere. A restaurant or a bar…”
The idea was tempting. I’d really love to spend a few more hours with Michael.
“A bar sounds great. But no alcohol, please.”
He agreed enthusiastically, and we headed to a place he knew. It was a bit expensive by my standards, but I immediately liked the cozy atmosphere and the live music. We ordered some snacks and two sodas.
No alcohol for us. For our own safety.
“So, how was work today?” he asked, clearly trying to make conversation.
“Working at the bookstore is always nice. It’s my favorite place in the world. I’m just really tired—today was rough.”
“Is it usually busier on Saturdays?”
It never was busier—because it hardly had any movement at all. I told him that with some discouragement.
I told him everything from the beginning. How the bookstore had started, created by my mother and grandmother, how it had been a big success in the region for many years, and how things had gotten harder recently.
And finally, I explained why the day had been so tiring: we were starting to pack up some of the books because the place was going to undergo renovations.
It was only then that Michael found out what I had used the five hundred thousand from our agreement for. And he seemed surprised by it.
“And will that amount be enough for everything?”
“It was enough to buy the land upfront, as the owner demanded, to buy part of the construction materials, and pay the first few weeks of labor. I’ve got some savings that should cover the rest. I just need to take it slow, so my grandma doesn’t suspect anything.
She thinks I took out a loan to add to my savings and buy the land. ”
“Well, I’m your fiancé. I could help you with that.”
I laughed, guessing what he meant by that. It was obvious he wouldn’t be adding any more money, since he had no real relationship with me.
“I could tell her you lent me the money to pay for the labor,” I said. “One more lie, in the midst of all this, won’t make much of a difference.”
He looked serious, as if that wasn’t exactly what he had meant—but he didn’t disagree. Just then, the band onstage started playing a song I loved, and apparently, Michael loved it too.
Which, of course, gave us yet another topic: bands and singers we both liked. Within a few hours, we were laughing together, just like we did that night at the hotel. With the difference that, this time, there was no talk of sleeping together, no strange proposal of engagement, nothing like that.
Having fun sober had its perks too.
And the biggest one for me was that I’d remember everything the next day.
How fun Michael’s company was, and how he made me feel completely at ease and carefree.
I swore a few times like I had when I was drunk, not caring about being the perfect granddaughter, the perfect student, or the perfect employee.
Always being perfect was exhausting.
I felt like with Michael, I could be completely myself.
“How about a toast?” he proposed. “Just one, it won’t hurt us.”
Well, he was right. A single drink wouldn’t be bad. So, I agreed, and we ordered two cocktails, which arrived a few minutes later, brought by a different waiter than the one who had been serving us so far.
We toasted to my birthday and to Alice’s. And to the happiness of the three of us.
The three of us...
It was a shame that would never truly exist.
We were finishing our drinks when a man approached our table with a rather unusual message.
“Excuse me... Is that BMW out front yours, by any chance?”
Even after drinking so little, I nearly burst out laughing at the question—it was so surreal to me. I never imagined someone would ask me if a BMW could possibly be mine.
But it belonged to my companion. He told the man so, and the man added, “It’s just that it’s blocking my car. Could you move it forward a little so I can get out?”
“Damn place without valets…” Michael muttered.
I rolled my eyes and teased him, “Oh, the problems of rich people…”
We both laughed, though the guy in front of us didn’t find it funny at all.
Reluctantly, Michael decided he’d have to move the car himself and asked me to wait for him while he left, followed by the other man. I followed him with my eyes, unable to stop doing what I always did when I saw him walking away: focus squarely on that amazing butt.
“Damn temptation…” I murmured. I even tilted my head to the side to get a better view of that masterpiece as Michael walked out of the bar.
I took the last sip of my drink, feeling like I was getting weaker when it came to alcohol. It had been just one cocktail, but my head felt a little heavy.
I noticed someone approaching and looked up. A wave of dizziness hit me hard, and when I looked at the face of the man who had stopped beside my table, all I saw was a blur.